Student Emma Whittum of Williamstown, a junior at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., studied in Spain during spring 2018 semester. The program she participated in is one of 100 study-abroad programs offered to undergraduates.

Annie Wenger-Schulman of Pittsfield, a graduate of the Advanced Inquiry Program at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, recently traveled to Mongolia with the program's Project Dragonfly. Wenger-Schulman studied the ecology of steppe ecosystems, with a focus on the Pallas' cat, Przewalski's horse and participatory conservation media. Project Dragonfly's Earth Expeditions graduate courses offers firsthand educational and scientific research at critical conservation field sites in Africa, Australia, Asia and the Americas. Wenger-Schulman works as a science educator at Berkshire Community College.

Pearl Sutter of Windsor and Tyler Dorrity of Toms River, N.J.

Two 2018 graduates of Drew University in Madison, N.J., earned top honors at the national convention of the biology honor society Beta Beta Beta.

Pearl Sutter of Windsor and Tyler Dorrity of Toms River, N.J., were recognized for their oral presentations at the convention, which took place in California. Sutter won first place for the Frank G. Brooks Award in Organismal Biology and Dorrity finished first for the Frank G. Brooks Award in Molecular Biology.

The national recognition came after Sutter and Dorrity captured first place honors at regional TriBeta conventions in 2018 and 2017, respectively. Their lectures described original research that they conducted at Drew for their honors theses. Sutter explored why women are more susceptible to Alzheimer's disease than men and how a new compound may reverse its negative effects. Dorrity, meanwhile, examined how a small molecule called cGAMP impacts the body's immune system depending on where it is relative to cells.

Sutter said she "could not have achieved this award without the help and support from my professors, my family and my friends," adding that the recognition "is evidence that with hard work and a supportive team, anything is possible."

Sutter and Dorrity also earned several college awards at Drew-in Baldwin Honors, biology and Jewish studies. In addition, as undergraduates they participated in the Drew Summer Science Institute and the Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti, which enables students to work one-on-one with retired scientists in a laboratory setting. The mentoring program is intensive and unique, particularly at a liberal arts school like Drew.

Post Drew, Dorrity and Sutter are continuing their studies at graduate schools. Dorrity is pursuing a doctorate in microbiology, immunology and infection at Columbia University and Sutter is working toward a medical degree at the University of Connecticut.

Paige Harrington of Dalton, daughter of Lorie Harrington and Daniel Harrington, has enrolled for the 2018-2019 academic year at Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology. Harrington is in the environmental, health and safety management (MS) program. She is a 2014 graduate of Wahconah Regional High School and was awarded an RIT Merit Scholarship.

Graduations

The University of New Hampshire at Durham awarded degrees to the following students during commencement exercises in May.

Ryan Nagelschmidt of Pittsfield earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering

Amanda McLeod of Dalton earned her master of science in natural resources and environmental economics

Marley Makes of Dalton graduated with an associate and a bachelor of science degree in veterinary science.

Jenna Terio of North Adams graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University in Medford on May 20 with a bachelor of arts degree in child study and human development. The commencement ceremony featured the awarding of honorary degrees to a number of academic, business and civic leaders making a positive impact on the world.

Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., awarded 788 degrees at the university's 155th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18, including to three local students:

Andrew Krom of Ashley Falls graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in economics

Michelle Pierce of Pittsfield graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, accounting

George Sommerville of Pittsfield graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, management

Two local students graduated from Castleton (Vt.) University during the college's 231st commencement on May 12.

Haley Conner of Becket earned a bachelor of arts in criminal justice

Ryan Wadsworth of Williamstown earned a bachelor of science in business administration

Katelyn J. Monteleone of Lenox was one of 482 seniors who graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, on May 27, receiving a bachelor of arts degree at the college's 197th Commencement. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins was the guest speaker. Monteleone, who majored in English with a concentration in creative writing and theater and dance, attended Lenox Memorial High School and is the daughter of Robert and Maureen Monteleone of Lenox.

Alexander Hart of Adams has earned a master of science in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Hart was among approximately 3,700 undergraduate and graduate students who received degrees during Georgia Tech's 255th commencement exercises on May 4-5 at the McCamish Pavilion.

Allison Degrenier of Clarksburg has graduated magna cum laude from the University of Findlay (Ohio). Degrenier received a bachelor of science in animal science and biology during commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 5.

Emmanuel College in Boston celebrated its 96th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 12, with sports journalist, author and television broadcaster Jackie MacMullan delivering the address. The college conferred degrees on the following local students:

Weimon Chi of Pittsfield received a bachelor of arts in sociology.

Lindsay Curry of Pittsfield received a bachelor of arts, magna cum laude, in art therapy.

Eric Lomaglio of Lenox received a bachelor of arts in liberal studies.

Bailey Tonini of West Stockbridge received a bachelor of arts in management with a concentration in marketing.

Sarah Schiff of Lenox graduated from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Medford along with 147 other students at the college's 36th commencement ceremony on May 20. Schiff earned a doctor of veterinary medicine.

Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y., recently awarded degrees or certificates to the following local students:

Michael Cantoni of North Adams, physical education studies

Collin Goodrich of Pittsfield, computer information systems

Morgan Greenbush of North Adams, dental hygiene

Dr. Briell Dzierga

Briell Dzierga, daughter of Rosey and Steve Dzierga of Adams, was awarded her doctor of veterinary medicine on May 6 from Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in Columbus. She graduated from Hoosac Valley High School in 2008 and the University of Rhode Island in 2014. Dr. Dzierga will be practicing medicine on large animals in Pennsylvania.

Cori Ghidotti of North Adams graduated with a bachelor of science in clinical health studies and Robert Buffis of Lanesborough, magna cum laude, with a bachelor of science in athletic training at Ithaca (N.Y.) College's commencement ceremonies in May.

Daley Keator, of Lenox, received a bachelor of art degree in communication at Loyola University's 166th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at Royal Farms Arena in downtown Baltimore.

Western New England University in Springfield recently graduated more than 700 students, including the following local residents:

Four local students were among those receiving 4,747 degrees conferred by the Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology this academic year at all its campuses, including in Croatia, Dubai, Kosovo and China. The university held its 133rd annual commencement celebration in May. The local students who graduated this spring include:

Peter Desrosiers of Pittsfield received a bachelor of science in software engineering.

Alex Boulger of Clarksburg received a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering.

Rebekah Spence of Pittsfield received a bachelor of science in diagnostic medical sonography.

Mark Eddy of Pittsfield received a bachelor of science in chemical engineering.

Union College conferred degrees on at least 10 local students.

Nearly 500 students graduated from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., on Sunday, June 17, during the college's 224th commencement exercises. Among them were the following local students:

Rachel Clement of Berkshire, bachelor of science in biochemistry

Edward Gebara of Williamstown, bachelor of science in biomedical engineering

Honor Societies

Sharon Foucher of Adams was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Foucher was initiated at The Sage Colleges in Troy, N.Y.

Academic Lists & Awards

The University of Rhode Island in Kingston has named the following local students to the spring 2018 dean's list:

Several Pittsfield students were named to dean's list at Becker College in Worcester for the spring 2018 semester:

Adam Delphia is pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in interactive media design, with a development and programming concentration.

Hailey Graham is pursuing a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice, with a forensics/crime scene processing concentration.

Adam Leonard is pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in interactive media design, with a video game production and management concentration.

Avril Levesque of Adams was named to the dean's list for the spring semester at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic. Levesque is a senior majoring in business administration.

Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., has named David Charland of Pittsfield, a finance pre-major student, to the dean's list and Lauren Levardi of Pittsfield, an exercise and sport science major, to the president's list for the spring semester.

Pittsfield resident, Angela Rosa Petretta has been named to the president's list at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., for the spring 2018 semester. Petretta is majoring in kinesiology.

Castleton (Vt.) University has named Katlyn Toomey of North Adams to the president's list and Dillon Benham of Lenox to the dean's list for the spring 2018 semester.

Samantha Twing of New Marlborough was recently named to the president's list at The State University of New York at Potsdam for the spring 2018 semester. Twing is majoring in music.

Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., has named junior Noah Chicoine of North Adams and senior Kevin Murray of West Stockbridge as Presidential Scholars for the spring 2018 semester. Chicoine is majoring in applied mathematics and statistics and Murray in civil engineering.

The following students have been named to the spring 2018 dean's list at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.: Alicia Johnson of Adams; Emily Sorrentino of Lenox; Alison Cellana and Jenna Markland, both of North Adams; Madison Curtin of Tyringham; and Colby Masse of Williamstown.

Tufts University in Medford has named the following students to the dean's list for the spring 2018 semester: Ethan Brown of Lenox, Karen Amichia and John Tagliaferro, both of Pittsfield, and Elias Sekkal and Samuel Swoap, both of Williamstown.

Joan Grossman of Pittsfield has received the dean's letter of commendation for part-time students for the spring 2018 semester at the University of Albany, N.Y. Students must have earned at least a 3.5 grade-point average in six graduate credits for the semester.

Zachary Greenspan, a junior at Grove City (Pa.) College, has been named to the dean's list for the spring 2018 semester. He is the son of Herbert and Robin Greenspan of Becket.

Kyle Stevens of Great Barrington has been named to the spring 2018 dean's list at the University at Albany, N.Y. Students named to the dean's list earned at least a 3.5 GPA.

American International College in Springfield has named 450 students to the spring 2018 dean's list including Tyra Alado of Pittsfield, majoring in health science; Louis Martial Anwobor of Pittsfield, majoring in nursing, and Quinn Caesar-Williams of Dalton, majoring in general business.

Southern Vermont College in Bennington has recognized local students for honors for the spring 2018 semester.

Zachary Levesque of North Adams was named to the president's list for achieving a minimum grade-point average of 3.8 for both the fall and spring semesters.

Named to the dean's list were Aundrea Pansecchi of Adams, Dana Clement of Berkshire, Brooke Gates of Dalton and Lexia Gillette of Pittsfield.

Colby College in Waterville, Maine, has named the following local students to the dean's list for the spring 2018 semester:

Freshman Grace M. Dodig, daughter of Chris and Michelle Dodig of Lanesborough. A Mount Greylock Regional School graduate, she is majoring in economics and sociology.

Senior Katelyn J. Monteleone, daughter of Robert and Maureen Monteleone of Lenox. A Lenox Memorial High School graduate, she majored in English with a concentration in creative writing and theater and dance.

The following local students were named to the Springfield College dean's list for academic excellence for the spring 2018 term:

Merrimack College in North Andover has named Travis Ciempa of Adams, Mackenzie Rice of Dalton and Cameron Hadley of New Ashford to the dean's list for the spring semester.

Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology has named the following students to the dean's list for the spring semester:

Zachery Tatro of Clarksburg, electrical engineering

Joshua Giron of Clarksburg, hospitality and tourism management

Lana Grygier of Lenox, 3D digital design

Nicholas Trombley of North Adams, applied mathematics

Mark Eddy of Pittsfield, chemical engineering

Eli Cunningham of Pittsfield, computer science

Shawndell Cummings of Pittsfield, criminal justice

Alexander Stevens of Pittsfield, game design and development

Juri Kiin of West Stockbridge, game design and development

Ithaca (N.Y.) College congratulates the following students named to the dean's list for the spring 2018 semester: Nicholas Duffin and Cole Kleinman, both of Great Barrington; Robert Buffis of Lanesborough; Ali Bourzgui of Pittsfield; and Serena Guthrie of Washington.

The following local students have been named to the dean's list at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for the spring 2018 semester: Ashley Harrington of Housatonic, a political science major who graduated this year; and Pittsfield residents Louis Higuera, a sophomore majoring in political science, and Kerstin Schnopp of Pittsfield, a freshman majoring in psychology/special education.

Katie Bachli of Dalton and Jackson Happ of Great Barrington have been named to the Plymouth State University dean's list for the spring 2018 semester.

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